BRIDGEPORT -- In the end, New Canaan millionaire Walter Forbes got what he deserved, his former wife got some of what she wanted and the U.S. government got a share of a jackpot that officials feared was being shifted beyond their jurisdiction.

That was the result of a ruling in Bridgeport Superior Court stemming from one of the biggest accounting scandals in U.S. history.

Judge Howard Owens, issuing a settlement of the Forbes' divorce case, ensured the government gets a share of the Forbes' estate as part of the more than $3 billion in restitution Walter Forbes owes under his fraud conviction.

Forbes, 65, the former chairman of Cendant Corp., was convicted of securities fraud charges and sentenced in January 2007 to 151 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $3.275 billion.

Earlier this year, Caren Forbes filed for divorce from her husband in Superior Court. According to the suit, the couple's marriage broke down "irretrievably," and she wanted an equitable division of their property.

However, in an unusual move, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion to intervene in the divorce case. The government claimed in its motion that Forbes was attempting to circumvent the government's attempts at securing part of the restitution money he owes by transferring the property to his wife through the divorce action.

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"This court should not allow the Forbes family to undermine the government's work to enforce the restitution order under the guise of a simple, uncontested, family court matter," stated the government's motion to intervene in the case, pointing out Forbes had already transferred ownership of the Smith Ridge Road mansion in New Canaan to his wife.

According to the agreement, Caren Forbes will transfer ownership of the house back to her now-former husband so it can be attached by Cendant and the U.S. government. She is also returning to her husband about 14 acres and a chalet-style house in Wascott, R.I.

Caren Forbes does get to keep a condominium and golf club membership in Vero Beach, Fla., a condominium on Bank Street in New Canaan and half of the couple's collection of jewelry and art. The other half is to be sold to help fulfill the restitution order.

Walter Forbes is also to pay $1 a year to his former wife in alimony.

According to federal prosecutors, Forbes overstated income by $252 million at CUC International, which merged with HFS in 1997 to create Cendant. Disclosure of the accounting irregularities caused Cendant's stock to plummet 46 percent in a single day in April 1998. The fraud cost shareholders $20 billion, the government said.

Cendant, a travel and real estate company, later split into four companies, including Avis Budget Group.

Walter Forbes is currently in a prison in Allentown, Pa., and could not be reached for comment. Caren Forbes' lawyer did not return calls for comment.